Rawalpindi has issued a strict new 10-point security plan for all public and private schools, including higher walls, CCTV, armed guards and daily inspections after fresh terror threats.
New Security Advisory for All Schools in Rawalpindi
Authorities in the Rawalpindi division have issued a strict new security plan for all public and private schools following the recent suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts and a general rise in security threats. The advisory applies to every school and college in the division, regardless of size or fee structure.
The new measures are based on a 10-point security advisory that has been circulated to education authorities and school heads. District and tehsil officers have been told to ensure that every institution implements the guidelines without delay, with compliance treated as a compulsory safety requirement rather than a routine suggestion.
Officials say the main goal is to reduce the risk of attacks on educational institutions and to protect students, teachers and staff. The plan focuses on strengthening physical security, improving surveillance and tightening entry and exit controls on all campuses.
30,000 Ex-Servicemen to Be Hired as School Security Guards
To support the new security arrangements, the Punjab government has approved the recruitment of 30,000 retired military and police personnel on daily wages. These ex-servicemen will be hired as security guards to protect schools, colleges and other sensitive institutions across the province.
The School Education Department has directed district and tehsil education officers to immediately begin hiring retired personnel for deployment at educational campuses. Priority will be given to individuals with previous experience in security, weapon handling and crowd control.
By bringing in trained professionals, the government aims to strengthen the first line of defence at school gates. These guards will be responsible for checking visitors, monitoring suspicious activity and coordinating with local police in case of emergencies.
The use of retired soldiers and police officers is meant to ensure that guards are disciplined, alert and familiar with security protocols, rather than relying on untrained or lightly trained private watchmen.
Higher Walls, Barbed Wire and 24/7 Surveillance
The advisory includes detailed instructions on physical security upgrades for school buildings. All institutions have been ordered to raise their boundary walls to a minimum height of eight feet and to add two additional feet of barbed wire on top.
Schools must also install modern CCTV cameras at key locations, including main gates, grounds, rooftops and corridors. The idea is to cover all entry and exit points as well as internal movement areas so that any suspicious activity can be recorded and reviewed quickly.
Each campus is required to maintain a UPS with a heavy-duty battery to provide backup power for security systems. This is aimed at keeping cameras, lights and other critical devices running during load-shedding or power cuts, when sites may otherwise be more vulnerable.
In addition, every school must set up a dedicated control room to monitor CCTV feeds and handle emergencies. A focal person will supervise the control room throughout school hours, ensuring that alerts and unusual incidents are reported immediately to higher authorities.
Metal Detectors, Visitor Logs and No-Exit Rules for Students
Under the new plan, metal detectors and walk-through gates have been made mandatory for schools in the Rawalpindi division. Guards will be expected to screen visitors and, where required, randomly check bags to prevent weapons or dangerous items from entering the premises.
Visitor registers at the main gate must record the name, CNIC number, contact details and purpose of visit for every person entering the campus. No visitor will be allowed entry without proper identification, and unnecessary visits will be discouraged.
Schools are also required to display rescue training material and anti-terror preparedness guidelines prominently. These may include basic instructions on how to respond to emergencies, evacuation routes and contact numbers for police and rescue services.
For students, movement is being tightened. The advisory clearly states that students will not be allowed to leave the campus during breaks or free periods. Outsiders will not be permitted to enter school premises during school hours, except in strictly controlled circumstances.
These steps are intended to reduce unauthorised movement and make it easier to identify anyone who has no legitimate reason to be on campus.
Daily Inspections and Strict Accountability for School Heads
To ensure that the new security rules are actually implemented, the Education Department has ordered strict monitoring across the division. Assistant district education officers have been tasked with inspecting at least two schools every day in each tehsil.
District education officers and chief executive officers will also conduct daily inspections, visiting two institutions each to verify that boundary walls, cameras, guards and other measures meet the new standards.
Officials who fail to submit inspection reports will face administrative action, making it clear that oversight is not optional. School heads who do not comply with the security advisory risk disciplinary consequences, which may include written warnings, suspension or other penalties, depending on the severity of violations.
By linking security compliance to personal accountability, the government hopes to prevent complacency and ensure that safety remains a top priority at all levels of the education system.
Parents are being encouraged to cooperate with schools by following visitor rules, respecting no-exit policies for students and reporting any security concerns they notice. Officials stress that protecting children is a shared responsibility, and that the new security plan will be most effective when schools, families and authorities work together.
